Flannery's World Cup over as Irish suffer another huge blow

RUGBY

Hugh Farrelly, in Auckland

IRELAND'S troubled World Cup campaign was dealt another blow yesterday following the news that Jerry Flannery's tournament is over, with Damien Varley heading to New Zealand to replace the 41-times capped hooker.

IRELAND'S troubled World Cup campaign was dealt another blow yesterday following the news that Jerry Flannery's tournament is over, with Damien Varley heading to New Zealand to replace the 41-times capped hooker.

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Flannery's World Cup over as Irish suffer another huge blow

Independent.ie

IRELAND'S troubled World Cup campaign was dealt another blow yesterday following the news that Jerry Flannery's tournament is over, with Damien Varley heading to New Zealand to replace the 41-times capped hooker.

Flannery (32) had produced a string of impressive performances off the bench having recovered from a long-standing calf injury and had been named among the replacements for Ireland's crucial Pool C showdown with Australia on Saturday.

However, a severe tear to his left calf sustained in yesterday's training session has ended Flannery's tournament, with Sean Cronin now on the bench for Saturday.

It's a terrible blow for the hooker, who also missed out on the Lions tour to South Africa two years ago due to injury.

His Munster colleague Varley is due to arrive in Auckland on Saturday.